Work-positioning apparatus



Oct. "13, 1925. 1,556,683 A M. E. FERNALD oan POSITIONING APPARATUS F-i-leq Nov. 22, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TUFK Oct. 1925- 5 M. E. FERNALD max POSITIONING Arrmw;

r11 Nov. 22, 1971s 4 smug-sha 2 M. E. FERNALD WOKK POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 22, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 13, 1925. 1,556,683

v M. E. FERNALD IORK POSITlfOlfiNG APPARATUS Oct. 13 1925- 1,556,683

Filed Nov. 22, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES MARK E. FERNALD, OF SAUGUS, MASSACI-IUSETTS,'ASSIGN'OE TO 0. C. BLAKE, IN- CORPORATED, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WORK-POSITIONING APPARATUS.

Application filed November 22,1918. 7 Serial No. 263,741.

This invention relates to apparatus for relatively positioning a last, shoe, or similar article of work, with reference to some device, tool, or machine. Such a positioning operation is necessary for many purposes as, for instance, when it is desired to secure the work to a leader by means of which the relative movements of the work and the tool or tools of an automatic machine are effected, or for the purpose of marking the work to facilitate its subsequent positioning in such a machine.

As stated more particularly in certain applications filed by me concurrently herewith, these positioning operations are made especially diflicult by the peculiar shape of a last shoe, or other article of work havinga contour or outline like the outline of a shoe-sole, this difliculty being increased by the fact that the bottom of a last, shoe, or the like, is curved both longitudinally and laterally. The present invention aims to devise an apparatus with the aid of which this positioning operation can be quickly and accurately performed and which will substantially eliminate any requirement for skill on the part of the workman. The invention also is directed to the provision of an apparatus of this character which will accommodate any style or size of last or shoe and which. when adjusted for a given style or size, will accommodate either rights or lefts of that style or size without any change in adjustment.

The manner in Which it is proposed to accomplish these objects will be readily understood from the following description of one embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in accompanying cross section, of an apparatus embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view'of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when operating on a right shoe; 7 i

Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 8 operating on a left shoe of a last;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a last equipped with bushings which are used in effecting work positioning operations;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the leader positioning parts of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the adjusting devices for the side gage; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, of the parts shown in Fig. 7.

The apparatus shown is designed to be used either in marking the work for conveir ience in performing some operation on it, or for facilitating the positioning of the work for subsequent operations, or it may be used to locate the work properly with reference to a leader. In any case the work is usually mounted on a ack 2 which preferably is of the construction shown and dcscribed in my Patent No. 1,328,1a4, January 13, 1920. This ack has a heel pin to enter th socket of a last, an adjustable saddle 3 to support the toe portion of a last, and a locking device 4. arranged to act through the adjustable support for the saddle to lock the last on the jack. The base of the jack is provided with two shoes or runners, best shown at 5 in Figs. 3 and 4, which are spaced apart far enough to receive a leader between them and have their lower faces lying in the same plane so that they are adapted to rest on a table 6 with which the apparatusis provided. The table 6 is mounted on suitable legs 7 and forms the support for the other partsof the positioning apparatus.

The leader is indicated at 8 and prefer ably is made in accordance with the method disclosed in my Patent No. 1,266,113 granted May 14, 1918. This leader is provided with a peripheral flange that is toothed on its outer face to engage and be driven by a toothed pinion with which the automatic machines that are to operate on the last, sole, shoe, or other article of work are provided. The inner face of the flange cooperates with other parts of the automatic niachines to guide the work, and this face or contour of the leader agrees exactly in contour with the path or contour of the work long which it is desired to have the machine op crate. In practice this leader has an outliue or contour like the outline of a shoc-solc. Consequently, in positioning the work will reference to the leader, the problem is to bring the sole shaped contour or outline of the work into a superposed relationship to the sole shaped contour of the leader and then to lock the ack and leader seciu'el ticgcther aftr they have been brought into this relationship.

To this end the machine shown is vided with gaging means that position i leader and additional gaging means for positioning the work while secured on jack, these two gaging means being arranged in superposed relationship to each other. The machine also is provided with pron'iarking devices suitably related to the other parts of the apparatus to ii'iark the work at the desired points. The jack and leader are constructed to be locked together after they have been brought into the desired relationship and the machine is pro vided with means to prevent any relative movement of the jack and leader after have been adjusted and while they are be ing locked together.

The positioning means for the leader comprises two Vshaped gagging members best shown in Fig. 6 and indicated at 9 and 10, respectively. I These two members are shaped to embrac the heel and toe portions, respectively, of the leader, such as that indicated at 8, and they act when forced toward each other into engagement with the opposite ends of the leader to bring; the leader into a definite relationship to the gage members 9 and 10. That is these men'ibers move the leader into the only po sition that any leader of the same and shape can have with reference to these ii'seiubers. The member 9 is fixed to the upper surface of the table, while the grace 10 is mounted on a slide 11. Fig. 1, which can be moved backward and forward in a straight line, toward and from the part 9, in dovetail slot formed in the upper surface of the table. The frictional resistance offered to the movement of the gaged member 10 is sufficient to hold it in an adjusted position so that in performing the leader gaging operation it is merely necessary to "place a leader on the table with its heel end against the member 9 and then move the member 10 backwardly toward the member 9 until it clamps the leader securely between the members 9 and 10.

The work positioning means comprises a V-shaped gaging member 12, similar to the leader gage 9, mounted to embrace the heel her and s a thumb 17 threaded throi-i 'h it in such a posit that the lower our. this belt can rest l tl face of the heel of the last shoe being pocation of the work in the Cooperating with the heel gage of the work is a side cage 18 which preferably is positioned to engage the work a point near the bail portion of the last, shoe, or the like. This comprises small bar secured vertically in the forward end of a horizontal bar 19 which is mounted in a holder 20 for adjustment toward and "em the work. This bar also is adius-..ably mounted in a slot 21 formed in a carrier 22 so that it can be moved at right angles to the adjustment just described, and both the bar 19 and the holder 20 may be ic in their adjusted positions .oy a the nib s it of Fie s. the carrier 22 and that the bar 19 extends through holes formed in the opposite l s of the carrier. Couseque screw is tur ed down i holder 20 rela rely n clamp both the bar 19 and the holder 20 securely to the CtlL'lGl. The end of screw 23 rests on the plate 23 "that; sli cs on the upper surface of the carri and w will be evident from an inspection *5 and R that the holder 20 straddles of the side gage enables it to be adjusted both liuigitudiiiall and l terally of the work so that it can be set to on different styles and sizes of shoes, lasts or the like at substantially the same point. li h' o this point may be selected at will is pre t'crred to adjust the gage to contact h the work near the ball portion of the shoe or work since this po nt is closer to the center line of the work than is the corresponding point the opposite side and it therefore like y to less in different lasts of the same style and size tl would another point farther from the center line of the work.

In order to enable the s de gage to perform its positioning; function on eithe rights or lefts wihout any change in adjustment for style or size the carrier which supports the side gage, is mounted for reversal from one side to the other of the work. For this purpose the carrier is given the form of" a laterally elongated U and it is'mounted at its opposite ends in trunnions, one of which is formed in the upper end of the bracket and the other of which is formed in the upper end of a similar bracket 24 that is bolted to the opposite end of the table 6. These brackets carrystops 25-and 26, respectively, upon one or the other of which the carrier 22 rests when in either of its operative positions. This construction permits the carrier to be swung through substantially a half revolution from the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 3, where it is positioned to operate on a right shoe, to the position in which it appears in Fig. 4, where it is located for operation on a left shoe or last,

A shank marker 27 is supported by the carrier 22 in a bar 28 and holder 29, which cooperates with this part in the same way that the parts 20 and 19 support the side gage 18, except that the marker is supported frictionally in a hole drilled vertically in the forward end ofthe bar 28. A thumb screw 30 secures the holder in its adjusted position in the same manner that the corresponding screw 23 locks the side gage 18.

For the purpose of marking the heel portion of the work after it has been positioned in the apparatus the bracket 16, which is rigidly secured to the heel gaging member 12, is drilled, as indicated at 31, to receive the marker 27, or another one like it. In order tosupport a marker in suitable position to mark the toe portion of the work the toe gaging member 10 for the leader is provided with an upright standard or arm 32 upon the upper end of which a slide s mounted for up or down adjustment on the arm, the friction between these two parts being sufficient to maintain the slide in any position in which it isadjusted. Projecting forward from this slide'and secured rigidly thereto is an arm 34 provided on its lower surface with a small rounded projection 35 (Fig. 2) which rests on the tread face of the work. This arm is drilled, as indicated at 36, to receive the marker 27.

After the leader and jack have been brought into cooperative relationship the leader is secured against movement by the engagement therewith of the members 9 and 10. In order to hold'the jack in its adjusted position while it is being clamped to the leader the apparatus is provided with a pair of clamps indicated at 38 and 39, respectively, Fig. 1, which are positioned to overlie the runners 5 of the jack and are mounted on pivots located in the table 6 to enable them to swing into and out of ack clamping position. The lower ends of these clamps are connected by links 40 and 41, respectively, which are connected together to form a. toggle, the central or knuckle joint of this toggle being pivoted to the upper end of a yoke 42 which is connected by a link. 43 to a treadlc 44. A spring acts on the treadle to hold it normally in an elevated position in which the toggle 40, 41 is broken in an upward direction, thus maintaining the clamps 38 and 39 swung outwardly where they permit the free ad justment of the jack on the table 6. When the workman has brought the jack and leader into the proper relationship to each other he' steps on the treadle 44 and thus operates the clamps 38 and 39 to cause them to hold the jack securely against the upper surface of the table while he manipulates the handle 45 on the jack to lock the jack and leader securely together. The construction by which this locking of the jack and leader together is effected is fully disclosed in my Patent No. 1,328,144 above designated. I

As above indicated, one function of the apparatus shown is to mark the last, or other article of work, to facilitate subsequent positioning operations. For instance, in one process of making shoes the bottom of the last is equipped with three bushings indicated at b, Fig. 5, which receive the tacks or nails by which the insoleis secured to the last; and these bushings are located very accurately for the reason that the heads of the tacks or nails are used in'positioning the work preparatory to performing certain operations on it. The present apparatus may be conveniently used in marking the last for the locations of these bushings. Assuming that a new supply of lasts has been received which are not provided with these bushings, the operation is substantially as follows? An insole which exactly fits the bottom face of the last L is marked at the toe, heel and shank in the machine shown and described inmy Patent No. 1,393,105, granted Oct. 11, 1921, Sole marking machine, and is fitted carefully on the bottom of the last. The last is then secured in the jack 2. Markers or prick punches like the marker 27 are then placed in the holes 36 and 31. The jack bearing the work is placed on the table 6 and is adjusted to register the .heel and toe marks on the insole with the markers placed in the holes 31 and 36. These marks are on the center line of the V-shaped gages and bear the same relation to these gages] that the heel and toe markers of the sole marking machine. above designated, bear to the corresponding gages of that machine. Consequently, the outline of the insole is now superposed exactly upon the inner face of the leader. In other words, the projection of the edge face of the insole upon the plane'of the leader will: coincide exactly with the inner face'of the guiding flange of points in the outline of the tread face of the heel, as shown in Figs. and at. Consequc, the apparatus is now ad usted for arking of any last of the same style and size as that for which the adjustment has been made. That is, in order to mark another last of the same style and size it is merely necessary to secure the last on the jack and adjust it until the heel is brought into the relationship to the heel gage 12 shown in Figs. 3 and at, and the side gage 18 contacts with the forepart of the last as shown in said figures. The last is then properly positioned for the marking operation.

Inasmuch as the holes 31 and 36 that receive the heel and toe markers, respectively, are located on the center line of the V-shaped gages, they will mark the toe and heel portions of rights and lefts of the same size and style at exactly the same points; and since the location of the shank marker is at a fixed distance off the center line and this distance is the same for both rights and lofts, it is merely necessary to reverse the shank marker from one side to the other of this center line in order to mark either rights or lefts. This is done by shifting the carrier 22 from one side to the other of the apparatus, that is from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. l, or vice versa. This shifting of the carrier also shifts the side gage 18 to enable it to position either rights or lofts, as above described. Consequently when the apparatus has been once adjusted for a given style and size of last all the other lasts, whether rights or lefts, of the same style and size can be marked in this apparatus without any further change of adjustment.

When it is desired to secure the leader to the jack carrying the last, it is merely necessary to clamp the leader in the manner above described between the leader gaging members 9 and 10, then position the last by means of the gages 12 and 18, depress the treadle ll to clamp the leader securely on the table, and operate the handle to lock the leader and jack together. Thereafter the jack and leader may be removed from the apparatus and placed in an automatic machine which is to operate on the last with absolute confidence that the work is prop erly positioned with reference to the leader.

If the work is a shoe or sole supported on the last it may be positioned in the same way with reference to the leader, or the positioning operation may be performed by using markers in the holes 31 and 36 to register with the heads of the fastenings that are driven through the sole into the bushings Z) in the last L. That is, the Work may be positioned either by registering these fastenings with the pointers or by registering the work with the heel gage 12 and the side gage 18, the latter gage having first been properly adjusted.

While I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of the invention of which I am at present aware, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment may be modified in many particulars without depart-ing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new, is

1. An apparatus for gaging the position of work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising a gage for one end of the work, a gaging device mounted for engagement with a lateral face of the work at a point remote. from said gage and co-operat ing with said gage to position the work, and means for supporting said device for reversal to accommodate either rights or lefts.

2. An apparatus for gaging the position of work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising a gaging member for one end of the work, a side gaging member arranged to engage one of the lateral faces of the work at a point remote from the first member, and supporting means for said members, said side gaging member being so supported that it is reversible from one side to the other of the work to enable it to perform its gaging function on either rights or lefts.

3. An apparatus for gaging the position of work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising a gage for one end of the work, a gaging device mounted for engagement with a lateral face of the work at a point remote from said gage, said device being adjustable to accommodate different sizes and styles of lasts, shoes, or the like,

and means supporting said device for reversalto accommodate either rights or lefts without modifying its adjustment for style or s1ze.

4;. In an apparatus for gaging the position of work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, a device for engaging a lateral face of the work, and a carrier supporting said device and mounted for reversal to enable said device to engage either side of the Work.

5. An apparatus for marking work con sisting of a last, shoe, or the like, commissing, in combination, a device for markthe work, devices arranged to engage the work at widely separated points to relatively position said marking device and the work, and means supporting said Work engaging devices for adjustment to accommodate different sizes and styles of lasts, shoes, or similar articles of Work including means reversible to opposite sides of the Work to enable said devices to accommodate either rights or lefts without modifying the adjustment for style or size.

6. An apparatus for marking work con sisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising, in combination, a device for marking the work, and means arranged to engage the work at widely separated points to relatively position said marking device and the work, said means including a device, reversible to accommodate different sizes and styles of Work and mounted for movement from one side of the work to the other independently of the remainder of the work engaging means to accommodate rights and lefts while maintaining unaltered its adjustment for style or size.

7. In an apparatus for gaging the position of work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, a plurality of gaging members iii-- eluding a device for engaging a lateral face of the work, a carrier supporting said device and mounted for reversal to enable said device to engage either side of the Work, and a marking device mounted on said carrier in position to mark the Work.

8. In an apparatus for gaging the position of Work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, a plurality of gaging members including a side gage, a shank marker, a carrier adjustably supporting both said gage and said marker, and mounted for reversal to enable said gage and marker to operate on either rights or lefts.

9. In a apparatus for marking work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, the combination of, a shank marker, and a plurality of gaging members for relatively positioning said marker and the work including a gaging device arranged to engage one side only of the work, and means supporting said device for reversal to control the position of the shank marker. on either rights or lefts.

10. An apparatus for marking work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising, in combination a pair of V-gages for engaging the work at widely separated points to position it, heel and toe markers carried by said gages, respectively, to mark either rights or lefts of the same style and size at the same points when positioned by said devices, and a shank marker controlled as to its position by said work positioning means and mounted for rotation about an axis longitudinally of said gages to mark both rights and lefts at the same relative points.

11. An apparatus for marking work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising, in combination, a gage for one end of the work, a side gage arranged to engage a lateral face of the Work at a point remote from the end gage, and cooperating with said gage to position the work a carrier supporting said side gage, and mounted for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the Work to transfer the side gage from one side to the other of the Work, and a shank marker mounted on said carrier. v

12. An apparatus for marking work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising, in combination, a gage for one end of the Work, a side gage arranged to engage a lateral face of the work at a point remote from the end gage, a carrier supporting said side gage, trunnions at the front and rear of the Work when in gaged position supporting said carrier for rotative movement through substantially a half revolution, and a shank marker adjustably mounted on said carrier.

13. An apparatus for marking Work consisting of a last, shoe, or the like, comprising, in combination, a table, means for positioning a leader on said table, work gaging means mounted immediately above said leader gaging means and comprising an end gage, a side gage, and a carrier sup porting said side gage for reversal from one side to the other of the work, a marker adjustablymounted on said carrier, and heel and toe markers mounted in a fixed lateral relationship to said leader positioning means.

14. An apparatus for positioning work consisting of a last, shoe, or other article of work having a portion presenting a sole-- shaped contour with reference to a leader having a similar contour to bring said contours into superposed relationship, said apparatus having, in combination, superposed position gaging devices shaped to embrace respectively similar ends of a leader and the work, additional means for engaging and positioning the opposite end of the leader, a side gage for positioning the end of the work opposite to that positioned by the end gage, and means supporting said side gage for reversal to enable it to position either rights or lefts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MARK E. FERNALD. 

